Guitar slide bar apparatus

ABSTRACT

A fretted neck of a guitar having a plurality of strings spaced above the fretboard and slide bar apparatus that includes a tubular portion having a first end, a second end axially opposite the first end, a finger receiving chamber opening through the first end and a frusto conical outer surface having a major base remote from the first end, a cap portion integrally joined to the second end and having a curved outer surface, and a rolled length of plastic film in the finger receiving chamber that may be cut off to provide for selectively sizing the effective opening of the finger receiving chamber to a given user&#39;&#39;s finger.

0 i v United States Patent 1 1 1 3,741,065 Harris June 26, 1973 GUITAR SLIDE BAR APPARATUS Primary Examiner-Richard B. Wilkinson Assistant Examiner-Lawrence R; Franklin 7 z W ll E. 3017 E t 61 Inventor g gfi grgg Minneaspolis, Attorney-Ralph L. Dugger. Nickolas E. Westman et Minn. 55408 [22] Filed: July 22, 1971 [S7 ABSTR CT A 21 A l. N 165 199 1 pp 0 A fretted neck of a guitar having a plurality of strings spaced above the fretboard and slide bar apparatus that [52] US. Cl. 84/319 i ludes a tubular portion having a first end, a second [51] Int. Cl. Gl0d 3/00 d axially opposite the first end, a finger receiving [58] Field of Search 84/319 chamber opening through the first end and a frusto conical outer surface having a major base remote from [56] References C ted the first end, a cap portion integrally joined to the sec- UNITED STATES PATENTS ond end and having a curved outer surface, and a rolled 3,386,325 6/1968 Smith 84/319 length of Plastic film the finger receiving chamber 1,748,053 2/1930 Blair 84/319 that y be Cut Off to Provide for Selectively Sizing the 2,466,344 5/1949 Wright.... 84/319 effective opening of the finger receiving chamber to a 3,457,822 7/1969 Mull 84/319 given users finger. 2,435,512 2/1948 Richmond 84/319 9 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures Patented June 26, 1973 3,741,065

FIEE

INVENTOR. WILLIAM E. HARRIS lrrokMEys BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Slide bar apparatus having a finger receiving chamber that may be moved along the strings of a guitar and depress the strings onto the fretboard of the guitar, or moved along the stringers to provide a movable fret.

In the prior art it is old to use a metal tube having constant inner and outer diameters and being open at both ends. However, such do not provide the desirable features of this'invention that are set forth hereinafter.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Slide bar apparatus for playing a guitar that includes a tubular portion having a first end and a finger receiving chamber and a curved cap portion integrally joined to the second end of the tubular portion, the axial length of the tubular portion being greater than the maximum transverse dimension thereof.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a new and novel slide bar member having a tubular portion with a frusto-conical outer surface. Another object of this invention is to provide new and novel slide bar apparatus having a finger receiving chamber and a roll of plastic film to accommodate sizing the chamber to an individuals finger.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a fragmentary plan view of a guitar neck portion and the apparatus of this invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view 'of part of the structure shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the apparatus of this invention; and

FIG. 4 is an end view of the structure of this invention, said view being generally taken along the line and in the direction of the arrows 4-4 of FIG. 3.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown the neck portion of a guitar, generally designated 10, that includes a plurality of strings 11' secured to the head 12 and extended over the nut 13 to normally'be retained spaced from the fretboard 14 on the neck 15, but during playing, movable into contact with the fretboard-In order to facilitate moving one or more of the strings into contact with the fretboard or providing a movable fret slidable on the tops of the strings, the bar slide apparatus, generally designated 20,- of this invention includes a slide having an axially elongated tubular portion 21 that has a circular cylindrical inner surface 19 and a cap end portion 22 integrally joined to tubular portion 21. The axially length of tubular portion 21 is greater than the dimension of the transverse spacing of the outer most strings in overhanging relationship to the fretboard. The outer surface 23 of the tubular portion is frusto conical and smooth, the major base end of the tubular portion being joined to the end portion 22. The angle of divergence of surface 23 relative the central axis L-L of the finger piece is preferrably in the range of 25; i.e. in the direction toward the end portion to compensate for the angle of the little finger relative the'strings. Preferrably the axial length of the tubular portion 21 is more than twice as great as the major base-dimension F of surface 23.

End portion 22 is in the shape of a spherical segment with a radius of curvature substantially greater than one-half the dimension of the major base of surface 23 while the thickness to the segment is preferrably equal to or less than one-half of said radius of curvature. Asv

a result, end portion 22 provides added mass to the finger piece adjacent to the end of the finger on which it is used, while at the same time, due to the radius of curvature of the cap, for example two strings may be readily depressed to contact the fretboard while the adjacent third string is not contacted by the finger piece. With reference to the above, the strength of the finger particularly the little finger on which the apparatus 20 is normally used, decreases in a direction toward the terminal end thereof, and the provision of the added mass of the cap adjacent the terminal end of the finger helps to compensate for this decrease in strength.

In view of the fact that different individuals have fingers of different sizes, in order that the finger piece may be made with one size inner diameter and still may be fitted to the finger of one user, there is provided a rolled piece of rectangular plastic film 30 in the finger piece that has a plurality of turns, the thickness of the film being greatly exaggerated in FIG. 3. The length of the film is greater than its width, the width being about 7 the same as the axial length of the tubular portion 21. By removing the film 30, cutting off the appropriate length of the film and reinserting the remaining length of rolled film into the finger piece, the effective size of the chamber into which the finger may be inserted can be adjusted to the size of a finger for a given individual.

That is, the outer diameters of the uncut and the remaining length of rolled film after having part of the length cut therefrom in tubular portion 21 are the same, however, the inner diameter of the remaining length of the cut film in the tubular portion is greater than the uncut length. Thus, providing a length of rolled film in the finger receiving chamber permits customized fitting of the apparatus 20 to a given individuals finger.

As an example of one embodiment of the invention but not otherwise as a limitation thereon, the axial length of the tubular portion is 2 inches, the diameter of the finger receiving chamber is three-fourths inch, the major base of the tubular portion is l-inch, the miner baseis 13/ l 6 inch and the radius of curvature of the cap portion is 9/16 inch. Advantageously the end outer frusto conical surface that'diverges away from the tubular portion central axis in an axial direction toward the second end, said tubular portion further having a circular cylindrical inner surface defining said finger receiving opening and having provided in said chamber a rolled length of plastic film having a width about equal to the axial length of the tubular portion.

2. For facilitating playing a guitar having strings and a fretted neck, slide bar apparatus comprising an axially elongated tubular portion having a first end, a second end axially opposite the first end and a finger receiving chamber opening through the first end and a cap portion integrally joined to said tubular portion second end, said-tubular portion having a frusto conical 3 outer surface that has a. major base adjacent said cap portion.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 further characterized in that said frusto conical surface is tapered at an angle of about 25 relative the central axis of said tubular portion.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 further characterized in that said cap portion has an outer surface having a radius of curvature of greater than one-half of the major base dimension.

5. The apparatus of claim 2 further characterized in that the axial length of said tubular portion is greater than twice the maximum transverse dimension of said tubular portion.

6. For facilitating playing a guitar having strings and a fretted neck, slide bar apparatus comprising an axially elongated tubular portion having a first end, a second end axially opposite the first end and a finger receiving chamber opening through the first end, a cap portion integrally joined to said tubular portion second end, and a rolled length of plastic film within the finger receiving chamber, said plastic film having a width approximately the same as the axial length of the tubular portion and a length substantially greater than its width.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 further characterized in that the axial length of the tubular portion is at least twice the maximum transverse dimension thereof.

8. For playing a guitar, slide bar apparatus comprising an axially elongated metal tubular portion having a first end, a second end axially opposite the first end, a finger receiving chamber opening through the first end and an outer frusto conical surface that diverges away from the central axis in an axial direction toward the second end, and a metal cap portion integrally joined 

1. For playing a guitar, slide bar apparatus comprising an axially elongated tubular portion having a first end, a second end axially opposite the first end, a finger receiving chamber opening through the first end and an outer frusto conical surface that diverges away from the tubular portion central axis in an axial direction toward the second end, said tubular portion further having a circular cylindrical inner surface defining said finger receiving opening and having provided in said chamber a rolled length of plastic film having a width about equal to the axial length of the tubular portion.
 2. For facilitating playing a guitar having strings and a fretted neck, slide bar apparatus comprising an axially elongated tubular portion having a first end, a second end axially opposite the first end and a finger receiving chamber opening through the first end and a cap portion integrally joined to said tubular portion second end, said tubular portion having a frusto conicaL outer surface that has a major base adjacent said cap portion.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2 further characterized in that said frusto conical surface is tapered at an angle of about 2*-5* relative the central axis of said tubular portion.
 4. The apparatus of claim 2 further characterized in that said cap portion has an outer surface having a radius of curvature of greater than one-half of the major base dimension.
 5. The apparatus of claim 2 further characterized in that the axial length of said tubular portion is greater than twice the maximum transverse dimension of said tubular portion.
 6. For facilitating playing a guitar having strings and a fretted neck, slide bar apparatus comprising an axially elongated tubular portion having a first end, a second end axially opposite the first end and a finger receiving chamber opening through the first end, a cap portion integrally joined to said tubular portion second end, and a rolled length of plastic film within the finger receiving chamber, said plastic film having a width approximately the same as the axial length of the tubular portion and a length substantially greater than its width.
 7. The apparatus of claim 6 further characterized in that the axial length of the tubular portion is at least twice the maximum transverse dimension thereof.
 8. For playing a guitar, slide bar apparatus comprising an axially elongated metal tubular portion having a first end, a second end axially opposite the first end, a finger receiving chamber opening through the first end and an outer frusto conical surface that diverges away from the central axis in an axial direction toward the second end, and a metal cap portion integrally joined to the second end having an outer surface that has a general radius of curvature at least equal to the major base dimension of the frusto conical surface.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8 further characterized in that the tubular portion has a circular cylindrical inner surface defining said finger receiving opening and that there is provided a rolled length of plastic film having a width about equal to the axial length of the tubular portion. 